Copyright: The characters of Xena, Gabrielle,
Argo, Ephany, Eponin, Callisto, Marcus, Caesar, Pompey, etc. are owned by MCA/Universal/Renaissance
Pictures. I only borrowed them to tell a story. No infringement was intended.
The rest of the story and the character Sierra are mine. I hold the copyright
to it. Do not use any part of this story without my permission.

Violence Disclaimer: This story depicts
GRAPHIC scenes of violence and/or their aftermath. Readers who are disturbed
by its depiction may wish to read something other than this story. Remember
this is a Conqueror story.

Love/Sex Disclaimer: This story depicts
a GRAPHIC love/sexual relationship between two consenting adult women.
If you are under 18 years of age or this type of story is illegal in the state
or country in which you live, please do not read it. If depictions of this nature
disturb you, you may wish to read something other than this story.

WARNING: There is a vicious rape scene,
if you can't handle it PLEASE skip over it.

Copyright 2000 by Mythe. All rights reserved.

Feedback: Please feed the Conqueror or she'll do something
nasty like take my muse from me!Mythe@xenafan.com

Thanks: To Sinjenkai...my beta reader and friend.

This story contains a relationship between Xena, Gabrielle
and another female. If you can't handle that then please read another story.
I'm afraid that in this world the legendary Hercules wasn't born. Enough said...enjoy
the story.

______________________________

Loving the Conqueror

By

Mythe

Part 5

EARLY DAWN

Eponin stood silently next to the ruins, having already
dispatched a search party. She waited patiently for the others to arrive and
took the time to scan the scene once more.

Four riders rushed up to the scene and halted before
her. Sierra, Xena, Ephiny and Marcus all dismounted and took in the scene of
the abduction.

"How did this happen?" the Queen addressed
her Captain.

"Give me the names of the guards from last night!"
the Conqueror demanded.

"Delvus and Raia were assigned to your section,"
Eponin informed and added, "Their part of the search party-"

"WHAT?" the Conqueror uttered and turned to
the Captain, "You're letting the two people who let this happen search
for her?"

"Yes," she nodded, "They will be punished-"

"I don't believe this..." Xena muttered and
ordered her head of security, "Take the men and thoroughly search this
area. I want the persons responsible for Gabrielle's kidnapping brought before
me."

Marcus nodded, "Yes, my Liege."

Sierra, disappointed at the thought of her Sisters lack
of security finally spoke up, "Were there any tracks?"

"Yes, my Queen..." Eponin responded, "The
rider was light...and may possess knowledge of our techniques," she pointed
and added, "One set of tracks led here."

"How so?" Ephiny interrogated next.

"The person used the trees to enter the perimeter...above
our sentries."

The Conqueror brushed past the Captain, picked up the
ripped shift and crouched before the four stakes that were embedded into the
ground. She was tied down...then drenched with water. Xena grabbed a
handful of dirt and brought it up to her nose, inhaling the faint scent of her
lover. Her eyes grew dark, as the thought of someone touching her brought anger
to her eyes. "An Amazon did this?"

"Lets not jump to conclusions here-" Ephiny
advised.

"At least 10 more came from the west. They were
weighed down...Roman soldiers," the Captain informed, "The earlier
track moved to the south and disappeared, while the rest moved to the west-"

The Conqueror threw the stocky Port master against wall
and pulled him up to her eye level. "Where did Caesar go?" she roared
and added, "Don't lie or I'll know."

"PLEASSSSE, I don't know!" he muttered, glancing
over his attacker's shoulder and at her awaiting companion. "Really...I
don't."

"LOOK AT ME!" she growled, as her eyes darkened
and focused on the quivering man. "DO you know who I am?"

"N-no," he stuttered, as he stared into the
cold blue eyes and noticed the long black hair. The Port master's mind finally
registered what his eyes projected and blurted out, "Y-you're the CONQUEROR!"

"You're a smart one," Xena remarked, releasing
her firm hold on the man's throat. She waited until he dropped to his knees,
before she quickly pressed the two pressure points on his throat.

The Port master gasped out his last breath and his eyes
widened at this turn of events. He once heard of the Conqueror's famous move
from a fellow drunk at the local pub and never thought he would be the recipient
of such a deadly honor.

"Your life is now forfeit," she decreed and
knelt down to one knee, "Tell me where they went and you shall leave this
world on good terms."

"Two boats..." he gasped out and continued
on, "Don't know which he was on...one went south to Egypt and other west-"

"Rome," Xena finished for him.

The gasping Port master nodded quickly as a thin line
of blood flowed from his left nostril. Sweat beaded upon his brow as he realized
that the darkness of death was slowly overwhelming all his senses.

The Conqueror rose up to her feet and brushed past the
awaiting Amazon Queen. "Not a word," she growled, exiting out of the
master's heated quarters.

Sierra stood there for a moment, observing the man's
last attempt for breath before falling over dead. She shook her head and followed
the Conqueror onto the dock.

The Conqueror stood silently upon the dock, taking in
the distant continent on the horizon as Caesar's. The gentle sea breeze blew
her dark tresses into her cold blue eyes. The darkness within her swelled and
her gut churned at the thought of her enemy touching her love. Eyes filled with
pure hatred watered; yet not a single tear shed as she ran her fingers through
her hair. "Gabrielle, my love be strong..." she whispered and proclaimed,
"You'll soon be in my arms once again. I promise you that."

"Xena, we must leave..." Sierra warned, "We're
totally out numbered here." She gestured to her guards to mount up and
mounted her steed as well, "Lets go."

"Fine..." she finally responded and instantly
leapt onto Argo's back. Xena turned back to the Queen and avowed, "You
and I have many things to discuss when we get back."

"As you wish."

CONQUEROR'S CASTLE

Callisto halted her gray mare in front of the Royal
stables, as a stable boy quickly approached her. "Give Banshee an extra
apple tonight, boy."

He took the reins and gave the mare a friendly nose
rub, "Yes, Ma'am."

A Royal guard halted before her and greeted, "Evening
Ma'am."

"What is it?" Callisto growled, dismounting.

"Ma'am, Marcus ordered me to report directly to
you."

"Well?" she sighed, patience wearing thin.

"Ma'am, our Liege's oracle has been kidnapped buy
Caesar."

"How horrid..." she voiced and made her way
into the courtyard, "When did this happen?"

"Early this morning, Ma'am..." he responded,
following two steps behind her. "Outside Ephesus."

Callisto abruptly chuckled, "Right under the Amazons
noses...huh?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"I knew THOSE women couldn't be trusted,"
she muttered aloud for him to hear and gestured with her hand, "Dismissed."

The guard bowed to her, "Very well, Ma'am."

Callisto continued her journey into the bathing chamber
with a sly smirk upon her face. "Awww...revenge how sweet it is,"
she purred and disappeared into the confines of the castle.

THE CONQUEROR'S BATHING CHAMBER

Callisto laid her head back as she lounged in the large
tub and feeling the day's stress left her sore body. "This will soon belong
to me," she purred to herself.

"Knock...knock..."

"Enter," she called out, not opening her eyes.

A young servant girl entered into the room carrying
a silver tray that held a large gold pitcher of wine and gold goblet. She sat
the requested items next to her then, poured a glass for her before she made
her hasty exit.

Callisto brought the goblet to her lips and drank half
of it in one gulp. She casually swirled the wine around as she stared into the
dark red liquid. Her mind traveled back in time to a day that had changed her
life forever and eventually brought her here.

CIRRA (10 WINTERS EARLIER)

"BURN THIS TOWN!" the Conqueror roared
atop her golden stallion.

Her soldiers quickly dispersed from around her and
tossed their burning torches into the straw buildings. People were screaming
and rushing from the burning huts, only to be cut down by the awaiting solders.

"MOTHER NO!!!" a young Callisto screamed
out, as the barn around her began crumble down around her. The blood curling
screams of her family echoed in the night along with hundreds more that were
perishing as well.

"Come with me if you want live!" a cloaked
figured advised, pulling her to safety.

"NO!!!" she roared, pulling free from the
stranger's grip. "I have to save my family-"

Callisto tears subsided as she fell into the dark
eyes of the stranger. She froze as the flames around them reflected within the
stranger's dark eyes.

"Come with me," the woman ordered, wrapping
her cloak around the terrified girl and pulled her safely out of the burning
building. "We're almost there," she assured as she led the girl into
the nearby woods away from the bloody massacre.

EPHESUS

Two young Amazons were on their knees, frozen in place
and trying to unsuccessfully to gasp out a much needed breathe. One dark haired
and the other red, each stared up at their attacker with horror as blood slowly
trickled from each of their noses. "XENA!" the Queen roared out, "If
you let them die...so does our alliance."

The Conqueror's eyes narrowed at the Queen's idle threat
and retorted, "Over two incompetent warriors?"

"ALL life is sacred," she affirmed, "Besides,
we do have our own punishments you know." Sierra's stony stare focused
back at the fuming Conqueror as she slowly approached the glaring Conqueror.
Her dark eyes made contact with the icy blues that seemed to burn through to
her very soul. "I would hate to have our friendship end at the edge of
my blade."

After finally realizing the truth within the Queen's
words, Xena reluctantly released the young Amazons. She silently observed the
pair gasping for their first breaths of air then, spun around to face their
Queen. "I want justice."

"Very well...Conqueror," Sierra nodded and
acknowledged, "You shall have that." She turned to address her fallen
sisters and decreed, "Your status of being warriors for Artemis has been
revoked until further notice. Now go...speak to Ephiny on your retraining."

They lowered their heads and said in unison, "My
Queen, as you wish."

Xena growled, "Is that all?"

"WHAT?" the Queen voiced aloud and inquired,
"Do YOU yearn for death?"

"That would be most appropriate."

"Might I remind you that Gabrielle is alive and
breathing," she calmly responded back and added, "So, death would
be too severe at this time."

The Conqueror spoke up, "If the roles were reversed-"

"I would do the same," Sierra revealed and
continued, "Death is on the horizon and we must focus on the forthcoming
battle. Stop blaming each other on who's at fault and work on trying to defeat
Caesar and saving Gabrielle. We've wasted far too much time as it is."

ABOARD CAESAR'S SHIP

"Ma'am, you really should really eat something..."
the seaman whispered to the pale looking blond and held out a plate of food
for her to take, "My life will surely end if I fail this simple task."

"Alright...alright," she softly spoke up,
taking the offered food and brought a small portion of it to her lips. "Humm...this
IS good."

The scraggly man nodded his approval, "Only the
best for Caesar and his guest."

"Thank you..." she said and inquired about
his name, "What's your name?"

"Romi, Ma'am."

"Romi, thank you."

Romi sat a black pair of breeches and a white shirt
before her, "This is for you to wear, my dear...instead of that smelly
blanket."

"Thanks, Romi."

"I've filled your bath as well," he informed,
gesturing over his shoulder at the large wooden tub. "Should use it before
the water gets too cold."

"Thank you," she grinned and quickly polished
off her meal. "It's so kind of you, Romi."

"Think nothing of it, Ma'am."

"My name is Gabrielle."

"Very well, Gabrielle..." he acknowledged,
"I'm only doing what I've been ordered to do Ma'am."

"By who?"

"By our honorable Caesar of course."

CORINTH

"Fredrick, I want all my spies on top of this,"
the Conqueror informed her chief of staff.

"As you wish my Liege," he nodded.

"Find Auto and give him whatever he wants,"
she stated, "I want him to focus on finding her."

"Of course, my Liege."

"ALIVE, Fredrick..." the Conqueror glanced
up from her maps and added, "I want her alive. Do I make myself clear?"

"My Liege, if this person is at large...she's a
threat to you as well."

"I can handle myself," she yawned, "Gabrielle
is who I'm worried about."

"Why worry about some dumb-"

The Conqueror instantly was on her feet and had her
second pinned against the wall. She brutally shoved her forearm against Callisto's
throat, effectively blocking the blond from taking a much needed breath. "You
will NEVER degrade Gabrielle in ANY form in my presence again if YOU wish to
live to another day!" she roared, narrowing her eyes to small slits. "Do
I make myself clear?"

Callisto silently nodded her response as she read the
fury with those cold eyes. Just like that night... She took her first
gasp for air as the Conqueror's arm was quickly removed from her throat. She
rubbed her sore throat and apologized, "My Liege, I have offended you...please
forgive me for my error. Love is foreign to this cold heart of mine. I didn't
know."

"Make sure that it doesn't happen again Callisto,"
the Conqueror retorted, "I would hate to have to terminate your talents
over an ignorant comment."

"Yes, my Liege."

The Conqueror lifted the golden goblet to her lips and
finished off her drink in one gulp and wiping her mouth with the back of her
hand.

"If this person is an Amazon, then we must sever
our ties with the Amazons-"

"Could be," the Conqueror corrected her second.

"If she is allying with them...then they are protecting
her," Callisto restated, "And we can't just wait around-"

"We can and will," the Conqueror spoke up
and revealed, "By no means have I forgiven them for their lack of security.
Besides, WE have an advantage to the bastard Caesar and that's the Amazons."